Old Kilkenny cattle mart site not selling. Written by Michael McGrath NO INTEREST IN OLD CATTLEMART SITE. An exceptionally large development site in Kilkenny city, much bigger than the old Brewery Site acquired by Kilkenny Borough Council last year, due to be zoned for a neighbourhood centre, is offered for sale by private treaty since 6th November last year, over two months now. To date there have been no bids though the auctioneers naturally put a fine gloss on it. DTZ Sherry FitzGerald and Sherry FitzGerald McCreevy were looking for in the region of €5 million for the former cattle mart site which extends to 5.66 hectares (14 acres) and has frontage on to three roads – New Road (R866), Barrack Street and the Castlecomer Road (N77). Under the current city development plan which runs until next year, the land was zoned for “general development”. However, an attempt by Citymart Properties in 2009 to get permission for a mixed use scheme ended in failure when it was blocked by Kilkenny Borough Council and later An Bord Pleanála. The board was concerned the development would damage the vitality and viability of the city centre retail core. The scheme had included two anchor stores, 34 retail/ commercial units, a seven-screen cinema, creche, offices, 24 residential units and a 1,214 space car park. In the meantime, the McDonagh Junction shopping centre was developed and after a difficult start is now trading well with a full complement of traders. Shoppers also have the choice of the Market Cross shopping centre off the main street , and also the local supermarkets in and around Kilkenny city such as Dunnes, Lidl and Aldi, Loughboy and Newpark. As Kilkenny County Manager Joe Crockett explained to a packed public meeting , shopping retail outlet is over-resourced in Kilkenny. He agreed that this land could be put to good use as a car park for the proposed new Abbey Creative Quarter on the old brewery site across the river and he also agreed that this old cattle mart site would be an ideal for the local CBS secondary school that needs more space to expand and other such educational, social and cultural needs. We think the sellers would be lucky if they got half the price they are looking for, and maybe this is good news for the city as we could possibly afford to buy it for social, educational and housing needs. We think Why Not, and we consider that this would be a good policy for candidates to adopt as we near the local elections on May 22nd. We believe that the price could sink to 2 millions - or even lower! There could be some car parking pencilled in there too which would be very handy for the proposed new Abbey Creative Quarter which would only be a short walk across the proposed new CAS bridge. In fact the Brewery and the old cattlemart could be developed in tandem as twin sites in a fabulous riverside project that could eventually employ as many as 3000 people in one of the loveliest situations anywhere in Europe or the world. So we cant see any planning permissions emanating from Kilkenny City Hall for any more shopping developments in Kilkenny, judging from the managers remarks . His preference would be to welcome in creative development from the knowledge industries for this site as well. The Kilkenny Draft City & Environs Development Plan 2014-2020, yet to be adopted, proposes that the old mart site should be zoned for a neighbourhood centre “to provide for local shopping, non-retail services, community and social needs”. The site is within easy walking distance of the local railway station and bus depot. Kilkenny has become a major tourist destination in recent years, helped by vigorous marketing by the city’s hotels and restaurants. It attracts most of its domestic visitors from Dublin and Cork because of its convenient location. Its medieval character of a lovely place to live and enjoy life to the full is its greatest attraction for new developments that want to provide the good life for themselves and their staffs in this little gem of a city in the heart of Ireland. And now this site will be joined with the Abbey Creative Quarter in the city centre via a new modern bridge that the County Council, under Crocketts passionate, determined but quiet and expert leadership, is lovingly creating across the lovely river Nore.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 07:22:21 +0000
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